The Iowa State Beef Checkoff is in force, with the first funds coming in to the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC).

The Checkoff is the result of a 2016 Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) referendum vote. Fifty cents per head of beef sold goes into the fund, administered by a 10-member board under the IBIC. The Checkoff is in addition to the $1 per head collected through the National Beef Checkoff Program.

Unlike the national program — which requires that 50 cents of every dollar collected be sent to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board for programs — the entire Iowa State Beef Checkoff assessment is managed in part by Iowa cattle producers.

Collections began March 1, and according to IBIC Executive Director Chris Freland around $135,000 had been collected as of April 30. Program projections anticipate $1.6 million to be paid...